Camp Little Norway

Royal Family at Camp Little Norway

Before the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Crown Prince Olav and Princess Märtha visited the United States. On this trip the couple became close friends with President Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. After the war broke out, Crown Princess Märtha and the Royal children initially stayed with the Roosevelt family in the White House. The Crown Prince, like his father, went to the United Kingdom to be with the Norwegian government-in-exile. 

In the United States, Crown Princess Märtha worked with the American Red Cross on behalf of Norway. Her efforts to help her country inspired Roosevelt's "Look to Norway" speech. In this speech, Roosevelt said, "If there is anyone who still wonders why this war is being fought, let him look to Norway. If there is anyone who has any delusions that this war could have been averted, let him look to Norway; and if there is anyone who doubts the democratic will to win, again I say, let him look to Norway." 

The Royal Norwegian Children

Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha had three children: Ragnhild (1930–2012), Astrid (1932-); and, Harald (1937-). When war broke out, the young children and their mother spent much of their time during World War II in the United States. In the US, they stayed in Bethesda, Maryland, located northwest of Washington D.C. However, they visited the Royal Norwegian Air Force base at Camp Little Norway in Canada. Filmographer and photographer Campbell Norsgaard captured many photographs of the Royal Family during this time at Camp Little Norway and elsewhere.

Olav, Harald, and family at a picnic

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